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Extra lane 'to ease congestion' Extra lane 'to ease congestion'
(40 minutes later)
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is to unveil plans to allow drivers to use the hard shoulder on busy stretches of motorways in England. Drivers may be able to use the hard shoulder on busy stretches of motorways in England, Ruth Kelly has announced.
The move follows a successful trial on the M42 near Birmingham, where the hard shoulder was used as an extra lane and the speed limit reduced to 50mph.The move follows a successful trial on the M42 near Birmingham, where the hard shoulder was used as an extra lane and the speed limit reduced to 50mph.
It could mean drivers in a hurry paying a toll for using the outside lane. The transport secretary said the scheme could be extended to parts of the M1, M6, M62, M27, M4 and M5 - with some existing widening plans scrapped.
But Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker described the measure as a "dogs dinner of a policy". But Lib Dem Norman Baker described the measure as a "dogs dinner of a policy".
In a keynote speech later on Tuesday, Ms Kelly is expected to signal that there are no immediate plans for a national road pricing scheme. In a keynote speech, Ms Kelly said the hard-shoulder option would also include motorways which feed into the M25, such as the M20 and M3.
The prospect of such a scheme prompted a record-breaking 1.8 million people to sign an online Downing Street petition opposing any such plan. Gridlock
Emergency refuges Other options - such as having a motorway lane which could not be used by cars with only one person inside as well as HGV crawler lanes - were also being considered.
She is likely to signal that such a proposal is "many years down the line" and that she wants to "tackle congestion now". And she announced a further six years of funding for local road pricing schemes which were initially seen as pilots for a national road pricing scheme.
However, she is likely to add that local road pricing schemes will be concentrated on areas where councils think they are needed. Building and widening roads is an expensive business to keep a lid on congestion Ruth KellyTransport Secretary
The touchstone here is giving people real choice on the motorway network, so where people value reliability they have the option to pay for it Ruth KellyTransport Secretary In her speech on Tuesday she made no mention of any plans for national road pricing, which last year prompted a record-breaking 1.8 million people to sign an online Downing Street petition opposing any such plan.
The main focus of her speech is expected to detail plans to open up the hard shoulder of motorways for peak periods. In her speech, Ms Kelly said: "We need to tackle over-crowding on our busiest roads today to avoid gridlock tomorrow.
It follows a successful year-long trial on the M42 motorway near Birmingham. "Building and widening roads is an expensive business to keep a lid on congestion.
Here, sensors detected traffic build-up, which trigger signs telling drivers to slow down and use the extra lane. Emergency refuges were established every 500m. "While we will continue to commit sustain4ed investment to improve the network .... we know that simply building new road capacity on its own is not a practical solution."
Following the success of the year-long trial on the M42 motorway, a Department for Transport feasibility study identified around 500 miles of England's motorways which could benefit from using the hard shoulder as an extra lane.
Emissions down
In the scheme, sensors detect traffic build-up, which triggers signs telling drivers to slow down and use the extra lane. Emergency refuges were established every 500m.
If accidents happen, messages appear telling drivers the lane is closed, allowing emergency services to get through.If accidents happen, messages appear telling drivers the lane is closed, allowing emergency services to get through.
Ms Kelly is expected to announce that a feasibility study by her department found vehicle emissions were also reduced. It is also cheaper than building new lanes.
A national road pricing scheme to replace other road taxes is undoubtedly the way forward, but this latest fudge from ministers will please nobody Norman BakerLib DemsA national road pricing scheme to replace other road taxes is undoubtedly the way forward, but this latest fudge from ministers will please nobody Norman BakerLib Dems
She is also likely to say which other motorways could be suitable to have a similar scheme. In the first six months of the M42 trial, average journey times fell by more than a quarter on the northbound carriageway, fuel consumption reduced by 4% and vehicle emissions dropped by up to 10%.
Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Kelly said a "fresh approach" was needed to tackle the problem of over-crowded roads.
"I want to tackle the problems of congestion wherever they occur, using all the latest technology available," she said.
"Traffic has grown faster on motorways over the past 10 years than any other kind of road.
"Motorways account for 1% of total roads, but carry 20% of total traffic and 40% of heavy goods vehicles."
Airport run
She said: "If you are thinking of an existing three-lane motorway, and you open up a fourth lane, one of those lanes might be a reserved lane, and by doing that people can put a premium on reliability.
"You could imagine a stretch on the way to the airport, or wherever it is essential to get to your destination on time.
"The touchstone here is giving people real choice on the motorway network, so where people value reliability they have the option to pay for it.
"Everyone else would have the choice of remaining in the existing three lanes. It is a win-win situation."
Confusion?
But Mr Baker said: "A national road pricing scheme to replace other road taxes is undoubtedly the way forward, but this latest fudge from ministers will please nobody.But Mr Baker said: "A national road pricing scheme to replace other road taxes is undoubtedly the way forward, but this latest fudge from ministers will please nobody.
"It confuses the purpose of a hard shoulder, which we have been told for decades exists for safety reasons. Now it will become partly pay-if-you-want, partly share-if-you-want and partly for emergency vehicles.""It confuses the purpose of a hard shoulder, which we have been told for decades exists for safety reasons. Now it will become partly pay-if-you-want, partly share-if-you-want and partly for emergency vehicles."
Chris Glen, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said his colleagues were "firmly opposed to road pricing where there are no toll-free alternatives".Chris Glen, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said his colleagues were "firmly opposed to road pricing where there are no toll-free alternatives".
"We are pleased that the government has listened to our concerns. This is a good first step, but we still need a better road network and a more integrated transport system to safeguard UK competitiveness.""We are pleased that the government has listened to our concerns. This is a good first step, but we still need a better road network and a more integrated transport system to safeguard UK competitiveness."
Driving on the hard shoulder is well established in some European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands.Driving on the hard shoulder is well established in some European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands.